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Biopsychology > Nervous System & neurons & synaptic transmission > Flashcards

Nervous System & neurons & synaptic transmission Flashcards

1
Q

What is the nervous system?

A

A specialised network of cells in the human body and is our primary internal communication system.

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2
Q

The 2 main functions of the nervous system:

A

To collect, process, and respond to information in the environment.
To coordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body.

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3
Q

The sub-divisions of the nervous system:

A

Central nervous system (CNS) and Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

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4
Q

The central nervous system (CNS)

A

Made up of the brain and spinal cord, which passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS.

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5
Q

Brain.

A

Centre of all conscious awareness.

Divided into hemispheres.

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6
Q

Spinal cord.

A

Extension of the brain.

Responsible for reflex actions.

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7
Q

The cerebral cortex is…

A

highly developed in humans and is what distinguishes our higher mental functions from those of animals.

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8
Q

The peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

Sends information to the CNS from the environment and transmits messages from CNS to muscles and glands in the body.

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9
Q

The subdivisions of PNS:

A

Autonomic Nervous system (ANS).

Somatic Nervous system (SNS).

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10
Q

ANS.

A

Governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal, and stress responses.

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11
Q

SNS.

A

Controls - voluntary - muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors.

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12
Q

Neurons.

A

Nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals.

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13
Q

Types of neurons.

A

Sensory neurons, relay neurons, motor neurons.

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14
Q

Sensory neurons.

A

Carry messages from PNS to CNS.

Long dendrites and short axons.

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15
Q

Relay neurons.

A

Connect the sensory and motor neurons.

Short dendrites and short axons.

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16
Q

Motor neurons.

A

Connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands.

Short dendrites and long axons.

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17
Q

Neurons vary in size from…

A

Less than a millimetre to up to a metre long, but all share the same basic structure.

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18
Q

Cell (soma) body.

A

Includes a nucleus, containing the genetic material of the cell.

19
Q

Dendrites.

A

Branch-like structures protrude from the cell body, which carries nerve impulses from neighbouring neurons towards the cell body.

20
Q

Axon.

A

Carries the impulses away from the cell body down the length of the neuron; covered in a fatty layer of the myelin sheath protecting the axon and speeds up the electrical transmission of the impulse.

21
Q

Nodes of Ranvier.

A

The gaps between the myelin sheath.

Speeds up the transmission of the impulse by forcing it to ‘jump’ across the gaps along the axon.

22
Q

Terminal buttons.

A

At the end of the axon that communicates with the next neuron in the chain across a gap known as the synapse.

23
Q

What is meant by electric transmission?

A

Firing of a neuron.

24
Q

What happens when the neuron is in a resting state?

A

The inside of the cell will be negatively charged compared to the outside of the cell.

25
Q

What happens when a neuron is activated by a stimulus?

A

The inside of the cell becomes positively charged for a split second causing action potential to occur.
Creating an electrical impulse to travel down the axon towards the end of the neuron.

26
Q

Synaptic transmission

A

Process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the synaptic cleft.

27
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Brain chemicals are released from synaptic vesicles that relay signals across the synapse from one neuron to another.
Can be broadly divided into those that perform an excitatory function and those that perform an inhibitory function.

28
Q

Neural networks

A

Neurons communicate with each other within groups.

29
Q

How are neurons separated?

A

By a synapse.

30
Q

Signals within neurons are…

A

transmitted electrically.

31
Q

Signals between neurons are…

A

transmitted chemically.

32
Q

End of a neuron is called…

A

the presynaptic terminal.

33
Q

When the electrical impulse reaches the end of the neuron…

A

it triggers the release of neurotransmitter from tiny sacs called synaptic vesicles.

34
Q

Once the neurotransmitter crosses the gap…

A

it is taken up by the postsynaptic receptor sites (dendrites).

35
Q

What happens at the postsynaptic receptor sites?

A

The chemical message is converted back into an electrical impulse and the process of transmission begins again in this other neuron.

36
Q

Why does each neurotransmitter have its own specific molecular structure?

A

To fit perfectly into a post-synaptic receptor site.

37
Q

What effects can a neurotransmitter have on a neighbouring neuron?

A

Excitatory or inhibitory effect.

38
Q

Excitation.

A

When a neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron. This increases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse.

39
Q

Inhibition.

A

When a neurotransmitter makes the charge of the postsynaptic neuron more negative. This decreases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse.

40
Q

Summation

A

Whether a postsynaptic neuron does fire is decided by this process.

41
Q

If the net effect on the postsynaptic neuron is inhibitory…

A

the postsynaptic neuron is less likely to fire.

42
Q

If the net effect is excitatory…

A

the inside of the postsynaptic neuron becomes positively charged.

43
Q

Once the electrical impulse is created…

A

it travels down the neuron.

44
Q

Summation - therefore the action potential of the postsynaptic neuron is only triggered…

A

if the sum of the excitatory or inhibitory signals at any one time reaches the threshold.

Biopsychology (10 decks)

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